Clasp for bracelets, straps, linkages or the like



July 14, 1931. c; H. KESTENMAN CLASP FOR BRACELETS, STRAPS, LINKAGES, OR THE LIKE Filed April 21, 1931 Patented July 14, 1931 '1 v (UNITED STATE-s PATENT, ore-ice l cinema n. x'asrsimm, or 'reo'finmren, mitts Isa Ann, ASS'IGNOR '10 assumes DEBS. MFG. co; c3?- PROVIDENCE, mo s ismm, A CORPORATION or more ISLAND .s-p ucauoiiam April "21,.

This invention relates to imp rovements in I clasps' or fastening=devices for connecting. the ends of wrist-watch straps, bands, brace lets or other linkages. s

One object of theinvention 'is to provide a clasp or fastening-device of simple con-f struction which effects a more securejoinerj of the ends of the linkage or bracelet, and

which is proof againstun'warranted or acciib dental: unfastening.

Another objectofthe invention is togpi'ovide a 'clasping-device of the type specified;

having two' independently operated means for clasping the free ends of the linkage or is bracelet to insure greater security.

Another-object of the invention is to pros. vide a clasping-device o'f'the type specified having a series of notches along its length for receiving one ofthe 'free ends of the "26 linkage or bracelet whereby it may justed tothe proper length to fit the wrist,

and having means incorporated therein for clasping orholding the end-link in the notch in which it is placed. I

whereby :it. h1ay be disconnected from the 5d clasp Fto. permit removal of the linkage or bracelet from 'the. wrist Without disturbing 1 aroundt ieadj'oiningend-bars h of the'niain.

the adjustment of its length. i.

Anotherobject of the invention is top'ro-- vide a clasp'of the type specified which may st be manufactured rom sheet metal parts struck up in dies and assembled with amini-n mum of hand operations". 1

.Anothe'r-object of the invention isto provide a clasp of the type specified whereinthe mechanical elements are concealedflfrom' view and all unsightly joints or obtrusive projections eliminated. r

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following. specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the in, vention, byway of. example, as illustrated.

by the accompanying drawings. Inthe drawings: j

- Fig. '1 is a perspective view representing the ends of two lengths of abracelet or link ends of the length;

jams? For. Bantams, srrnAPfs, enses on mm 1931. serial as. 531,783.

age secured together by means of the present" improved clasping-device; i Fig. 2 is. an enlargedplan view of the same showing the parts of the device in closed or clasped relationship; Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same; F ig. 4, is a similar edge view showing: the clasp opened to permitdisconnection ofthe linkage or adjustment in its Fig. 5-is a similar view illustrating the manner in which, one end of the linkage is secured in its adjusted position in the clasp while the opposite end thereof is free to be disconnected; and Fig. 6 is a composite perspective view of the several elements of the clasp illustrating the method of assembling theparts; The present improved clasping device comprises, in general, a base-memberhavi'ng side flangeswith notches or openingstherein' for receivingthe' end links. of the bracelet or linkage whereby the latter may be ad-.. j usted in length to fit the wrist of the wearer, andmean's for releasably retaining the links: in connection with the clasp. r 1

Referring to the drawings, as hereinilluse trated the two sections 2 and 3 of the bracelet i or linkage, which are adapted for attachment to a wrist-watch, comprise main links 4 connected b smaller loop-likelinks 5 folded links. While only one type of linkage is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that the present improved clasp is adapted for use Withchains and bracelets ofother types having end links provided with crossmembers. The present invention is there'- fore not limited to any precise method of constitute hin e-ears, being perforated with circular holes or receiving hinge-pins 20 and 21, respectively, on which the two cooperate.

later more fully explainedi The clasp-member 25, previously-men tioned, comprises a sheet-metal plate hav ng at one end a cylindrical bearing portion 26 for pivoting it on the cross-pin 20 extending between the ears 15 of thebase-member 10. At itsopposite end the member 25 is provided with a pair of extensionsor ears 27 bentdown at right-angles to its sides and indented to form projections or'prot'uberances 28 on their outer faces'adapted-to'snap-into the slotted openings 22 in the flangerportions23 of-the base-member 1O when the parts are closed together in clasped relationship as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and-3. a

i To attach the section 2 of the braceletto the clasp its end linkis engaged over the member 25 while the latter is in raised posis tion as shown in Fig. 4. The end-bar of the link is placed within one of the notches 11, 12 or 13, inaccordance with the length required to adjust the bracelet to the wearers wrist; and the member 25 is then folded downwardly on its pivot 20 to snap the detent protuberances 28 into the openings 22 in the flanges on the base 10. The two cooperating parts of the clasp are thus securely locked together to hold the end link of the braceletsection 2 in the notch in which. it has been positioned or adjusted." It will be observed yreference to Fig. that the member 25' fits snugly between the cut away flanges on the sides of the base-member 10 so that these parts are held from side-play or distortion.

To secure the opposite section?) of the bracelet to 'the clzisping-device second hinged member 30 is employed. Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the member 80 com- ;prises a sheet-metal platehaving one. end

formed into a loop or cylindricalbearing 31 through which the hinge-pin 21 extends to pivotally connect this. member to the end of the base-member 10. The opposite end of .the member 30 is bent. downwardly to form.

an arcuate detent-latch orcatch 35 which is adaptedv toisnap over the bearing-.26 of the member 25 as the parts are folded into closed: relationship. To facilitate the; manual op eration of unclasping the device,a lip or pro-'-.

jection 36 is formed on the member 30 to permit the insertion of the fingernail there under for lifting the member. '30 upwardly;

The projection 36 is formed by punching or extruding the .metal outwardly as clearly;

shown inFig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, the ends of the bearing 31 are spaced inwardly from the edges of the member 30 to provide shoulders 39"wh1ch are a-da Jted to strike (I ZLlIlSt the edges of the hinge-ears 16 on the base-member 10 as the member 30 is swung upwardly to limit its movement in this direction, see Fig. 4.

The device operates as follows: The two members 25 and 30 are first turned on their pivots 2O and 21 to a vertical position as illustrated in-Fig. 4. One of the bracelet-sections 2 is connected to the claspwith the crossbar 6 of its end link engaging in one of the notches, for example in the notch 12 as shown in Fig. 4. The member 25 .is then folded down until its 'detent-protuberances 28 snap intothe openings 22 in the flange-portions 23, see Fig. 5. The section 2 of the bracelet is thus releasably clasped within the fastening device. To clasp the bracelet around the wrist, the end link of the opposite section 3 is placed over the member 30 and its crossbar 6 engaged in the notch 14, after which the member 30 is folded down over the member 25 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 3'. The latch 35 on the member 30 is snapped over the bearing 26 on the member 25 to yieldingly engage therewith, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It will be observed by reference to these views that in addition to securing the bracelet section 8 to the clasp, the member 30-acts as a cover to conceal the mechanical elements ofthe device. It is also to be observed that the relatively wide hooked end 35 of the member 30 afiords a long hearing or latching surface to insure greater security and a more positive clasping of the parts, whereby to guard against side play or distortion andunwarranted or accidental unfastening of the-clasp 'To remove the bracelet from the wrist it is. only necessary to insert the fingernail under the lip-36 on the end of the member-3O to lift the latter and release the latch 35 from the bearing 26 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. lVith the member 30 swung upwardly, the cross-bar 6 of the end link on the bracelet-see tion 3 may be removed from the notch 14inthe base-member 10 by lifting it ofl over the end of the member 30.: During the disconnection of thesecti-on-B of'the linkage from the clasp the opposite section 2 is'retained in the notch 12 the-member 25 asshown in Fig.- 5 to preserve the adjustment of the bracelet.

When it is desired to lengthen or shorten the bracelet to adjust it to the wrist the'wearer "has only to'lift the member 25 to free its detent-protuberances 28 from the openings 22 in the base 10 andrais'e it upwardly'tothe position shown in Fig. 4. The cross-bar 6 of the end link of the bracelet may then be reniovedfionf the notch in which it is held and placed in one of the other notches to shorten or lengthen the bracelet as required. It will be observed fromthe foregoing that a particular feature of the present improve-1 ment consists in the double clasping arrangementv whereby each ofi-the'sections of the bracelet may be independently clasped witl1- in the device. This feature provides that one section may be retained in adjusted relationship in the clasp while the other section is free to be disconnected therefrom to remove the bracelet from or apply it to the wrist.

As another feature of improvement, the device is provided with means incorporated therein for adjusting the length of the bracelet and means for positively holding the adjustable section in adjusted position.

The present invention provides an extremely simple yet eflicient device for the purpose specified, with the parts constructed from sheet-metal stampings to render them economical to manufacture. The various elements of the device may be assembled without the use of solder, screws or springs, thus eliminating all parts liable to become loose and cause shackly joints. When in closed or clasped relationship the mechanical elements of the device are entirely hidden from view beneath the cover or upper member 30. The cover 30 may be suitably embossed, engraved or otherwise ornamented on its face to enhance the artistic appearance of the whole article.

The hook or catch 35 on the member 30 is of considerable width to provide an adequate engaging surface between the clasping means to effect a more positive and secure clasping of the parts.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of construction of the improved clasp, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the. spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A clasp for the purpose specified comprising a base-member having a series of openings for receiving the end links of a chain or bracelet, amember hinged to said base-member and foldable into position thereagainst to hold one of the end links in adjusted position thereon, and a second member hinged to the base-member and fold able across the top of the first folding memher to retain the parts in closed relationship with the ends of the bracelet connected thereto.

2. A clasp of the type specified comprising a base-member having a series of openings for receiving the end links of a chain or bracelet, a member hinged to the end of the base-member and foldable 'thereagainst to hold one of the end links in adjustable position on the base-member, a second foldable member hinged to the opposite end of the base-member to adapt it to be closed down across the top of the first folding member, and latching means on the second member for releasably securing it in closed position t-o maintain the end links connected with the In a device of thetype specified, the combination of a base-member having notches-spaced along itssides'for receiving the end lin ksof'a ch-ain'or bracelet, a member hinged to one end of the base member and foldable into position across the notches therein to maintain one of the end links in adjusted relationship on the base-member, and a second foldable member hinged to the opposite end of the base-member to adapt it to fold down against the top of the first folding member to secure the opposite end link in place and to cover and conceal the first folding member.

4:. In a device of the type specified, the combination of .a base-member having a series of notches spaced along its sides for receiving the end links of a chain or bracelet, a member hinged to the end of the base-member to adapt it to fold down across the notches and provided with detent-means engageable with means on the base-member to releasably hold the parts in closed relationship, a second foldable member hinged to the opposite end of the base-member and foldable down against the first folding member in position to secure the opposite end link in the end notch of the base-member, and latching means on the second foldingmember for releasably securing it in closed relationship. I r

5. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base-member comprising a substantially flat plate with side flanges projecting upwardly therefrom and formed with notches for receiving the end links of a chain or bracelet, a member pivoted to one end of the base-member to adapt it to fold down across certain of the notches in the side fianges'thereof, and a second foldable member hinged to the opposite end of the base-member to adapt it to fold down against the top of the first folding member, said second folding member formed with a latch portion adapted to snap over the hinged end of the first folding member to lock the parts in closed relationship.

v '6. Ina device of the type specified, the combination of a base-member comprising a substantially flat plate having flangesat its sides notched to form a series of openings for receiving the end links of a chain or bracelet, the end portions of the flanges beingprovided with holes, hinge-pins held in said holes in the flanges, a member pivoted on one of the hinge-pins to adapt it to close fold downacross the top of the first folding- CHARLES H. KESTENMAN. 

